Works with
- Anger
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Grief
- Self esteem
- Depression
How Nicole works
Practical facts
- Credentials
- LCPC
- Licensed in
- Illinois
- Years in practice
- 15
- Languages
- English
- Session format
- Online, through our partner platform
About Nicole
Nicole Kough is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) with 15 years of experience supporting people through hard times. She works from Illinois and focuses on practical steps people can use to feel steadier in daily life. Her style is warm and nonjudgmental.
She listens first, then helps people name patterns that cause stress or anger. Sessions aim to be straightforward and focused on what someone wants to change. Nicole uses methods that help people change unhelpful thoughts and find workable solutions.
Background and approach
She draws on client-centered listening to make space for each person's story. Together she and the client map small goals and realistic next steps. Common concerns she supports include anxiety, depression, grief, relationship stress, anger, trauma and self-esteem.
She also helps with career questions, coping with life changes, blended family issues and communication problems. Nicole adapts her approach to each person. Some weeks focus on skill-building like coping with panic or managing anger.
Other weeks look at the stories people tell about themselves and where those stories came from. Her goal is to help people find clearer thinking and more workable choices. Therapy sessions are practical, steady, and guided by what the client needs at the moment.
What Nicole works with
Everything Nicole lists, in the therapist's own terms. Anger is the reason this directory exists; the rest tells you what usually sits alongside it in Nicole's practice.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Grief
- Self esteem
- Depression
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
- Intimacy-related issues
- Anger management
- Career difficulties
- Coping with life changes
- Blended family issues
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Divorce and separation
- Family problems
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Jealousy
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Self-love
- Social anxiety and phobia
Approaches Nicole lists
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist names and does not check training records.
How Nicole’s approaches translate to online sessions
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and understanding each person's perspective. The therapist offers acceptance and reflection so the client can decide what matters and which changes to try. This approach helps when someone needs a calm space to sort through emotions.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps people notice unhelpful thoughts and test them against real-life evidence. It often includes simple exercises to try between sessions and can be useful for anxiety, panic, anger, and low mood. CBT gives clear tools to change thinking patterns that get in the way.
Narrative Therapy looks at the stories people tell about their lives and asks which parts of those stories can change. It can help with shame, grief, relationship pain, and identity questions by creating new, more helpful narratives.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with the client about goals and preferences and then try methods that fit those needs. This is a collaborative process and adjustments are made as progress is tracked.
Online sessions offer flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. Video is good for full conversations, phone can be a lower-bandwidth option, and text or chat can work for brief check-ins or when someone prefers not to be on camera. These choices make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule and keep momentum between appointments.
Questions people ask about Nicole
What kinds of problems does she address?
She works with people facing stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship concerns, anger, trauma and self-esteem issues, among other life challenges.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her style is supportive and nonjudgmental with a focus on listening, practical skills, and finding concrete solutions that fit each person's life.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 15 years of experience in counseling and has worked with a range of symptoms including panic, depression, and relationship struggles.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is an Illinois Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) and practices from Illinois.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
What session formats are available?
Sessions can take place as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.
How does billing and cost work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to therapist availability.